try something new

Recently my dad gave me one of his recent food creations inspired by Thug Kitchen, made with swiss chard, balsamic glazed chickpeas and so much other deliciousness, that I couldn’t wait to try. My dad, a vegan for close to 5 years now and a man of little words hadn’t mentioned any other ingredients, so after a yoga flow in my living room, I eagerly warmed it up and dove in. I found a mushroom, speared it with my fork and brought it to my mouth. A slightly rubbery texture with a bitter and almost salty flavour met my tastebuds instead. It was delicious! I started looking for more of these briny rascals and after several scrumptious bites, I had figured it out: These weren’t mushrooms but olives! Hold up- now normally, I don’t like olives. In fact, I avoid them at all costs. A “thing” I’ve had since I was young. To say that I was stumped by this unexpected twist of events (I like olives- what?!) would be an understatement. How could I have spent all these years on this planet, thinking one thing (olives are yucky), yet completely oblivious to the truth (they’re actually downright tasty)?

It got me thinking about other things in my life that I’ve linked with my personality or have been quick to dismiss because of an outdated and possibly even ignorant notion. What other delicious, incredible, fun and possibly heart-thumping experiences have I turned my nose up to for no damn good reason?

Inspired, I decided to try something new. I live in snowy Canada and though it’s certainly not the snowiest part of this beautiful country, for this sun loving bunny, it can be a bit much. In other words, I’m not overly passionate about the snow. BUT could that be my ego and other passé ideas playing tricks on me again, holding me back from life experiences I may otherwise really enjoy? With this in mind, I bribed my bestie with a cinnamon dolce latte from Starbucks and we set out to the forest behind my house for a little snowga. Have you heard of this? It’s essentially Yoga in the snow. Yogis love blending their love for nature with practice so this new way of flowing isn’t really a surprise. But it was a surprise to me (and my bff) when I showed up with this great idea at her door! And similar to the olives, it was far better than I originally thought. Fresh air, two friends, coconut milk lattes and a heck of a lot of fun!

In trying something new and letting go of my stale thoughts which no longer served me, I pushed my own boundaries and got out of my comfort zone. (Because let’s be real, comfort zones are not that comfortable!) I expanded my definition of ME! I gave myself the gift of new experiences, new tastes and new laughs, all while enjoying the bountiful scenery provided (free of charge) by mother nature. I just had to open my eyes to it and see all the possibilities in saying “yes”. So now the challenge is to remember this lesson and apply it every day. Want to try a new cafe? Sure! Invert into a challenging yoga pose? Totally! Should I wear that mustard-coloured shirt? Why not! How about some winter camping? Eeek, I’ll get back to you on that one! (Baby steps right?!) 😉

What are some of things you do when you feel those familiar walls holding you back? What haven’t you tried? And hey, what are you waiting for- Get out there and try something new! You’ll love it and I’ll bring the olives!